Rep. Jeff Denham, shown in 2012, is viewed as a vulnerable Republican in the Central Valley ahead of the midterm election. J. SCOTT APPLEWHITE, FILE PHOTO: THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Two drought-relief developments

• Reps. John Garamendi, D-Walnut Grove, and Doug LaMalfa, R-Richvale, introduced legislation Wednesday that authorizes a feasibility study of Sites Reservoir in Colusa County. It also authorizes construction if the project is deemed feasible.

• California House Republicans, led by Majority Whip Kevin McCarthy, sent a letter on Tuesday urging drought relief to both President Barack Obama and Gov. Jerry Brown. The authors criticized administration decisions that, they wrote, led to more than 445,000 acre feet of water being diverted to the Pacific Ocean rather than to farmers or other water users.

Packed into Fresno City Council chambers, an audience whooped in support as Rep. Tom McClintock exclaimed, “This is a natural drought compounded by a regulatory drought.”

McClintock’s comments came during a Wednesday field hearing about how to remedy California’s drought. But at times the event sounded more like a political rally than a staid congressional hearing.

Republicans used the event, streamed online, to build support for their drought-relief bill, but also to build support for Republican candidates. The drought, and government’s response to it, could be a deciding topic in three Central Valley congressional races. House members spoke at a rally before the hearing, saying that the Republican House has done its part to help California and that it’s now time for the Democratic Senate to act.

Republican leaders say the drought is a politically potent weapon in the upcoming midterm elections. They hope their charge that Democrats favor fish over farmers will help them maintain and grow their majority in the House of Representatives. GOP bigwigs, including Speaker John Boehner, have made trips to the Central Valley, hammering Democrats for environmental policies they say are aggravating the drought.

Jack Pitney, a political science professor at Claremont McKenna College, explained, “The Republican national interest is in shoring up vulnerable Republicans and taking down vulnerable Democrats.”

The Central Valley is home to two such Republicans, Reps. David Valadao, R-Hanford, and Jeff Denham, R-Modesto, as well as a vulnerable Democrat, Rep. Ami Bera of Elk Grove. Voters in these agricultural districts, Republicans reason, will be persuaded by the arguments that Democratic policies harm farmers and families in the Central Valley.

Valadao’s strong drought-relief advocacy could pay off come November, Pitney said. The freshman congressman is in one of the most Democratic districts held by a Republican, said Kyle Kondik of the University of Virginia’s Center for Politics.

Valadao has emerged as a key participant in the drought debate, taking part in negotiations with Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., and Rep. Jim Costa, D-Fresno. He was the lead sponsor of a bill the House passed last month that would increase pumping of the Bay Delta and roll back environmental regulations.

“It’s a district that depends on agriculture. It’s exactly the kind of seat where that could play into Republican hands,” Pitney said.

The Center for Politics, which rates congressional races, says that Denham’s seat is slightly safer than Valadao’s but that it’s still not a lock. Denham slammed California’s environmental regulations at the hearing, saying they showed the state’s misplaced priorities.

“In both districts, the role of agriculture makes the role of water storage more important than the environmental concerns,” Pitney said.

Republicans are hoping their drought-relief plan will let them hold onto the seats held by Denham and Valadao, but they are also hoping it will allow them to beat Bera, a freshman congressman.

Kondik said picking up Bera’s seat is a top priority for national Republicans looking to grow their House majority.

“This is a race that Democrats are fairly worried about,” he said.

Pitney said the drought could be one more issue for Republicans to use against him. Pressure from voters could have an effect before November, though. Legislators, looking for a win before the election, are motivated to write a compromise relief bill that could pass both chambers.

Feinstein met last week with Reps. Kevin McCarthy, the House Republican whip, Valadao and Costa. McCarthy’s inclusion in the meeting could indicate that lawmakers are close to a deal; as a member of House leadership, his support will be integral to getting legislation passed out of the House.

There are signs that Feinstein is softening some of her drought-related positions. She recently told the Fresno Bee editorial board that it is time to reassess the San Joaquin River Restoration project, something she previously has been unwilling to do.

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